What I have Learned From Living in a Small Space For A Year

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What I have Learned From Living in a Small Space For A Year | Looking Back

We have lived in a lot of different kinds of apartments in the last 6 years. They have all varied in size so we have gotten used to changing how we live. Our last apartment was a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom so we definitley downsized when we moved into our current place a year ago.

When we first moved in, I did a blog post on how to take advantage of living in a small space. I took about a month between when we signed our lease and when we moved to make sure I had everythig I thought we needed before we moved in. It's amazing how much has changed in that year! You can see the differences in my posts about our Master Bedroom Update, How Create a Gallery Wall and My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets. As time went on, I changed the set up of the furniture and where things were located to better fit our lifestyle.

Now, I want to share with you what I have learned from living in a small space for a year.

What I have Learned From Living in a Small Space For A Year | Organization Is Key

This is probably the main thing I have learned over the last year. I always like to stay organized no matter where we live, but I have found that it is crucial when you live in a smaller space. You need to know where everything is because everything you have, you should be using on a regular basis. Everything should have it's own place, which will also make cleaning a lot easier.

This doesn't mean that you have to be over organized. I have general areas where things go, but they don't always have to go back to the same spot. Jackie's toys are kept in the living room. There as baskets of toys on the shelves and Jackie can play with them when she wants. When it is time to clean up, everything goes back into the baskets and back on the shelves. We generally know where everything is and it's all put away.

 

What I have Learned From Living in a Small Space For A Year | Quality Over Quantity

This is huge. When we moved in, one of my friends kept asking me why I had so many tumblers. A single person did not need 10 tumblers! At the time, I thought I needed all of them. Now I have 5. The ones I kept are all differernt and I have a few extra in case someone comes over and asks for a drink in a tumbler. Those 5 tumblers take up way less space and I really don't need that many to be honest.

This goes for pretty much anything. Since we moved in, I have had a constant giveaway/sell pile going. I don't need all of the clothes in my closet that I don't wear. So I have been getting rid of them. If I don't wear or use it for more than 2 seasons, it is out. This also goes for purses. If you know me well, you know I have a collection of purses that I have been aquiring for awhile. Now I mostly have small crossbody bags and diaper bags. Because I don't need more than that!

I have also found that I am more willing to spend money on something if it is going to take the place of 3-4 cheaper items. I ended up buying the Kendra Scott jewlery box. It is not cheap. But it took the place of 4 smaller jewlery boxes and I can now see and find things when I need them. I don't go into HomeGoods just because anymore and I am much pickier about what I bring home from the Target Doller Spot.

 

What I have Learned From Living in a Small Space For A Year | Keep It Happy

What do I mean by keep it happy? If it doesn't make you happy when you look at it or use it, get rid of it. This is the Kondo method of decluttering but instead of doing it all at once, I do it daily. If I haven't been using something or I don't actually like how something works, I get rid of it. There is no reason for me to keep it. I can use the space it is taking up for something else or nothing at all.

I stuck with my keep it happy theory when I redid our bedroom. I have always hated our masterbedroom looked, no matter where we lived. I wanted something bright and airy that also looked like adults lived there. So anthing I bought, I made sure that I loved it.

 

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